Membership Renewal and Recharter are two (2) separate processes that over time have been combined into one process. Moving forward these two processes will be separated. 

Every year, from October through December, all units (packs, troops, crews, & posts) renew their affiliation with Scouting. This process allows units to update their adult and youth members' information, pay registration fees, and renew the Scout Life magazine subscriptions. In an effort to provide uninterrupted programs to your Scouts, please work on and complete your unit renewal in a timely manner. Membership renewal needs to be complete by the end of December. The signatures required for the membership renewal are to acknowledge the membership roster for the new year. 

There will no longer be a Charter Agreement included in the online renewal process. The signatures on the Charter Agreement will be handled with a separate process in the late spring or summer months. 

For questions concerning membership renewal, please contact your Unit Commissioner, District Commissioner or District Executive.

National Annual Membership Fee Update

Effective August 1, 2023, the BSA will implement the following national membership fees:

• $80 for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting youth participants ($5 increase)
• $60 for all adult volunteers ($15 increase to provide expanded general liability insurance and enhanced criminal background checks) 
• $25 one-time joining fee for new program participants in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting (No change in fee)
• $50 for Exploring participants youth & adult ($5 increase)
• $25 for Merit Badge Counselors (New fee applies only for Merit Badge Counselors not already registered as an adult Scouting volunteer)
• $100 for a unit charter/affiliation fee (No change in fee)
• $15 for Scout Life magazine

Steps to Success:
DO:

• Contact your District Executive before the end of October if your unit Institution Head or Charter Representative is changing.
• Ensure the Council office has correct emails on file for the Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Committee Chair, and Charter Representative.
• Also ensure the Council Office has correct emails on file for all other adult volunteers and youth parent relationships.
• Keep an attendance roster and be aware of any youth that has not been attending.
• Strive to have minimal or no loss in youth membership by reaching out to and re-engaging youth members who have not been attending recently. 
• Identify adults and youth who are registered in multiple units.
• Submit the Unit Charter Renewal online by December 15, 2023.

DO NOT:

• DO NOT Pay Online; the national system does not account for money on file at the Council office. Changes cannot be made to your membership roster if you have paid online.

DO NOT Wait until December 31; the registrar prepares the rosters ahead of time and makes every attempt to catch errors.

Key Dates

Email to Unit Key 3 (there is no longer a unit access code)

Unit Key-3 and Key-3 Delegates can complete online membership renewal and submit them to Council.

Last turn-in day (online submission)